The compatibility of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) formulae containing enormous information, is a complex component system. Applications of mathematical statistics methods on the compatibility researches of traditional Chinese medicines formulae have great significance for promoting the modernization of traditional Chinese medicines and improving clinical efficacies and optimizations of formulae. As a tool for quantitative analysis, data inference and exploring inherent rules of substances, the mathematical statistics method can be used to reveal the working mechanisms of the compatibility of traditional Chinese medicines formulae in qualitatively and quantitatively. By reviewing studies based on the applications of mathematical statistics methods, this paper were summarized from perspective of dosages optimization, efficacies and changes of chemical components as well as the rules of incompatibility and contraindication of formulae, will provide the references for further studying and revealing the working mechanisms and the connotations of traditional Chinese medicines.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; statistics & numerical data ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Drug Incompatibility ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

AIM:To observe the inhibition effect of endostatin ( endostar ) on mice choroidal neovascularization model ( CNV) and compare with the Avastin.
METHODS: Using 532nm laser photocoagulation to establish a mouse model of CNV. We observed the formation of CNV by histopathological examination after 2wk later. Forty successful models of mice were randomly divided into control group (group 1, 10 rats), normal saline group ( group 2, 10 rats ), endostatin group (group 3, 10 rats) and avastin group (group 4, 10 rats) . The drugs were injected into the mice' vitreous after photocoagulation 2wk later. Then 1wk later, we took the mice eyeballs to perform the HE and immunohistochemical staining to observe. The statistical analysis of ANOVA was done by SPSS 16. 0 and the LSD-t test was used for multiple samples, taking P<0. 05 as the test standards.
RESULTS: Two weeks later, HE histopathological examination was done , light microscope showed large amount of new vessels' formation, the positive rate for CNV was 72. 8%. The blank control group compared with the normal saline group P>0. 05, had no inhibitory effect on CNV;endostatin treated group compared with control group, P<0. 05, had a certain inhibitory effect; avastin group compared with the control group, P<0. 05, had an inhibitory effect on CNV; the LSD-t was performed on Avastin group and endostatin group, P<0. 05, which were statistically significant. We thought that the two drugs have different inhibitory effect on mice' CNV, because xAvastin=26. 90 ,xendostatin=29. 13,xAvastin CONCLUSION: Laser-induced CNV animal models of colored mice C57BL/6J is of short time and high rate establishment and it is an ideal model for CNV study. Endostar has certain inhibitory effect on CNV, and it is likely to become one of the important drugs for CNV-related diseases in the future.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical value of multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) in diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia.

METHODSMSCT, including plain scan, the arterial phase scan, and the portal vein phase scan, was performed in 18 patients who were suspected of acute intestinal ischemia. The mesenteric arteries and portal veins were imaged with techniques including volume-rendered technique, multi-planar reconstruction, and maximum intensity projection-thin. All of them were also examined with digital subtractive angiography (DSA). The diagnostic results of MSCT were compared with those of DSA, and the abnormal MSCT findings were analyzed.

RESULTSBowel wall thickening, mesenteric edema, and ascites were most commonly seen in venous thromboses, while luminal dilatation and air-fluid levels were commonly seen in arterial embolization. Except that pneumatosis was only seen in transmural infarction, all the abnormal CT findings were found in different patterns and different degrees of ischemia.

CONCLUSIONSThe integrated MSCT examination is a valuable tool in diagnosis of acute intestinal ischemia. It can accurately diagnose acute intestinal ischemia and is also useful to assess the degrees of ischemia.

Acute Disease ; Aged ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Female ; Humans ; Intestines ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Ischemia ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Male ; Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thrombosis ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

To develop an analytic method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of dodecatetraenamides A, B in 42 samples of two official species of Asari Radix et Rhizoma( ARR) (37 samples of Asarum heterotropoides var. mandshuricum with different collection time and 5 samples of Asarum sieboldiivar. seoulense). The HPLC-IT-TOF-MS/MS methods for the qualitative and UPLC-PDA methods for the quantitative analysis were established. Dodecatetraenamides A, B were identified by comparing the retention time, UV absorption spectrum and quasi-molecular ion peak [ M + H]+ with the reference compound using HPLC-IT-TOF-MS/MS. The content of dodecatetraenamides A and B in ARR were determined by UPLC-PDA. The separation was successfully carried out on a ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 (2.1 mm x 100 mm, 1.7 µm) column eluted with mobile phases of water (A) and acetonitrile (B) in gradient program (0-3 min, 35% B; 3-5 min, 35%-36% B; 5-6 min, 36%-43% B; 6 min-11 min 43% B; 11-12 min, 43%-100% B). The column temperature was 45 °C, and the detection wavelength was set at 254 nm. The flow rate was 0.6 mL · min(-1). On one level mass spectrometry scanning, the results showed that the quasi-molecular ion [M + H] + of both dodecatetraenamides A and B were m/z 248.20. The quantitative method with UPLC-PDA has made the baseline separation of the constituents, which were reported as mixtures in the most literatures. The average recovery of dodecatetraenamides A and B were 97.90% and 99.86%, the relative standard deviation were 0.4% and 1.1%, respectively. The contents of dodecatetraenamides A, B in all ARR samples was in the range of 0.11-3.89 and 0.24-6.65 mg · g(-1). Their contents reduced with the extension of storage time. Compared with the samples of 2013, the average content of the two constituents in the samples collected in year 2002-2003 reduced 34% and 36%, respectively (P < 0.05). Compared the A. sieboldii var. seoulense and A. heterotropoides var. mandshuricum with the same collective time and production area, the average contents of the two constituents in latter were up to (1.59 ± 0.75) mg · g(-1) and (2.90 ± 1.17) mg · g(-1), respectively, significantly higher than that in A. sieboldii var. seoulense (dodecatetraenamide A were (0.78 ± 0.52) mg · g(-1), dodecatetraenamide B were (1.69 ± 0.83) mg · g(-1)) (P < 0.05). The content of the dodecatetraenamide A in overground part was in the range of 0.11-0.33 mg · g(-1), dodecatetraenamide B was 0. 24-0.60 mg · g(-1), which were much lower than that of the underground part of ARR (dodecatetraenamide A was in the range of 0.73-3.89 mg · g(-1), dodecatetraenamide B was 2.11-6.24 mg · g(-1)). The method was certified to be simple, accurate and reliable and could be used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of dodecatetraenamide A and B in different species of ARR, also can be used for the comprehensive quality control of traditional Chinese medicine, Asari Radix et Rhizoma.
Amides ; chemistry ; Asarum ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Rhizome ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of total flavonoids of astragalus on the expression of endoplasmic reticulum chaperone, calumenin and connecxin 43 (CX43) in suckling mouse myocardium with myocarditis caused by coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3).

METHODSThe primary culture of suckling mouse myocardium cells were randomly divided into control group, CVB3 infected group and total flavonoids of astragalus group. Firstly, to confirm the identity of the suckling mouse myocardium, α-SMA was monitored by immunohistochemistry method. Then the protein expression changes of endoplasmic reticulum chaperone-glucose regulatory protein 78 ( GRP78), calumenin and CX43 were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS(1) Compared with that of the control group, the GRP78 expression level in CVB3 infected group was improved, the expression levels of calumenin and CX43 were all reduced. (2) Compared with that of CVB3 infected group, GRP78 expression level was decreased, and the expression levels of calumenin and CX43 were increased in total flavonoids of astragalus group.

CONCLUSIONCVB3 infection may cause endoplasmic reticulum stress of rat myocardium cells by increasing the expression of GRP78 and decreasing the expression of calumenin and CX43. On the other hand, total flavonoids of astragalus can reduce the expression of GRP78 and increase the expression of calumenin and CX43.The results of this experiment may be closely related to the effects of anti-arrhythmia with viral myocarditis caused by CVB3.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Blotting, Western ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; drug therapy ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; metabolism ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; drug effects ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Mice ; Myocarditis ; drug therapy ; virology ; Myocardium ; cytology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; virology ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Pinggan Qianyang Recipe (PQR) on inhibiting angiotensin II (Ang II) induced proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and changes of DNA methylation.

METHODSVSMCs were cultured using tissue explant method, and PQR containing serum was prepared. Primarily cultured VSMCs were divided into four groups, the normal group, the model group, the folate group (folic acid intervention) , and the PQR group. The proliferation and migration of VSMCs was duplicated by Ang II. After 24-h Ang II induced culture, 40 microg/mL folic acid was added to the folate group for 48 h, while 5% PQR containing serum was added to the PQR group for 48 h. The cell growth curve of VSMCs was drawn by using Cell Counting Kit (CCK-8). The proliferative activity of VSMC was determined by MTT assay. The migration of VSMCs was measured by Millicell chamber. The general level of cytosine methylation in cell nucleus was detected via 5-mC antibodies immunofluorescence, and mRNA expression levels of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) were measured by Real-time q-polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR).

RESULTSVSMCs were promoted by Ang II at 10(-6) mol/L for 24 h. Compared with the normal group, the proliferative activity and migration quantity of VSMCs obviously increased, and DNA methylation level obviously decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the cell growth, proliferative activity and migration quantity of VSMCs obviously decreased and the general DNA methylation level increased in the folate group and the PQR group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the normal group, the mRNA expression of DNMT1 decreased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, mRNA expression of DNMT1 in Ang II induced VSMCs was obviously enhanced in the folate group and the PQR group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSPQR could inhibit Ang II induced proliferation and migration of VSMCs, and cause high genomic DNA methylation level. Changes of DNA methylation might be associated with DNMT1 expression.

Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1 ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases ; metabolism ; DNA Methylation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects

Tumor immune checkpoint therapy is a clinical treatment strategy developed based on the new principle of the inhibition of negative immune regulation. In this article, the tumor immune checkpoint therapy and the drug delivery strategies were reviewed, mainly including immunity and tumor therapy, tumor immune checkpoint therapy and its mechanism of action, clinical application of tumor immune checkpoint therapy and therapeutic drugs, immune resistance of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PDL1) treatment and countermeasures, drug delivery strategies for tumor immune checkpoint therapeutic agents, etc. As a revolutionary new immunotherapy strategy, tumor immune checkpoint therapy has shown obvious superior therapeutic efficacy in a variety types of tumor. However, tumor immune checkpoint therapy is also faced with a big challenge, namely, immunotherapy resistance. With the discovery of new mechanism, the continuous development of new therapeutic drugs and delivery strategies, tumor immune checkpoint therapy is expected to further improve the clinical efficacy of tumor.

Objective To investigate the association of serum chemerin with degenerative aortic valve disease (DAVD) in patients with metabolic syndrome. Methods From July, 2012 to July, 2013, 48 patients with metabolic syndrome (mean age 56.33±6.14 years, including 25 male and 23 female patients), 48 patients with metabolic syndrome and DAVD (mean age 60.16± 6.72 years, 24 males and 21 females), and 48 adult healthy volunteers (mean age 52.94 ± 8.28 years, 23 males and 25 females) were examined for triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, fasting glucose, C-reactive protein and other biochemical indexes. Serum chemerin levels were detected using ELISA for all the subjects. Results Patients with metabolic syndrome had higher levels of serum chemerin than the healthy subjects, and patients with DAVD had higher chemerin levels than those with DAVD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that increased serum chemerin level is a predictor of aortic valve degeneration in patients with metabolic syndrome. Univariate linear regression analysis showed that serum chemerin levels, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, total triglyceride and C-reactive protein were associated with metabolic syndrome. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis identified correlations of body mass index and C-reactive protein with serum chemerin level. Conclusion Elevated serum chemerin level can be a predictor for DAVD in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Objective To investigate the association of serum chemerin with degenerative aortic valve disease (DAVD) in patients with metabolic syndrome. Methods From July, 2012 to July, 2013, 48 patients with metabolic syndrome (mean age 56.33±6.14 years, including 25 male and 23 female patients), 48 patients with metabolic syndrome and DAVD (mean age 60.16± 6.72 years, 24 males and 21 females), and 48 adult healthy volunteers (mean age 52.94 ± 8.28 years, 23 males and 25 females) were examined for triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, fasting glucose, C-reactive protein and other biochemical indexes. Serum chemerin levels were detected using ELISA for all the subjects. Results Patients with metabolic syndrome had higher levels of serum chemerin than the healthy subjects, and patients with DAVD had higher chemerin levels than those with DAVD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that increased serum chemerin level is a predictor of aortic valve degeneration in patients with metabolic syndrome. Univariate linear regression analysis showed that serum chemerin levels, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, total triglyceride and C-reactive protein were associated with metabolic syndrome. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis identified correlations of body mass index and C-reactive protein with serum chemerin level. Conclusion Elevated serum chemerin level can be a predictor for DAVD in patients with metabolic syndrome.

To study the chemical constituents of Asarum himalaicum, fifteen compounds were isolated from a 70% ethanol extract by using a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and semi-preparative HPLC. By spectroscopic techniques including 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HR-ESI-MS, these compounds were identified as 4-demethoxyaristolochic acid BII (1), aristolochic acid I (2), aristolochic acid Ia (3), 7-hydroxyaristolochic acid I (4), aristolochic acid IV (5), aristolic acid II (6), debilic acid (7), aristololactam I (8), 9-hydroxyaristololactam I (9), 7-methoxyaristololactam IV (10), (2S)-narigenin-5, 7-di-O-beta-D-pyranosylglucoside (11), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (12), 3, 4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (13), 4-hydroxycinnamic acid (14), and beta-sitosterol (15). All of these compounds (1-15) were obtained from A. himalaicum for the first time. Among them, 1 was identified as a new compound, and compounds 3-6, 9, 12-14 were isolated from Asarum genus for the first time. Since the kidney toxicity of aristolochic acids and aristololactams has been reported, the result of this investigation suggests that it should be cautioned to use A. himalaicum as a medicine.
Aristolochic Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Asarum ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Coumaric Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Hydroxybenzoates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Parabens ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Propionates ; Sitosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization